China forms nine more marine parks; 42 in all

China has announced the formation of nine new state-level marine parks to protect the marine environment, bringing the total number to 42.

The SOA has ordered local marine authorities in these provinces to start demarcating the parks, and not to arbitrarily adjust or change the parks’ boundaries and zoning. (Reuters)

China has announced the formation of nine new state-level marine parks to protect the marine environment, bringing the total number to 42.

The new parks are located in the provinces of Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan, China’s State Oceanic Administration (SOA) circular said.

The SOA has ordered local marine authorities in these provinces to start demarcating the parks, and not to arbitrarily adjust or change the parks’ boundaries and zoning.

The SOA has stressed the need to improve protection of the marine environment when tourism and aquaculture activities are conducted in certain zones of the parks, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

China’s state-level marine parks, first introduced in 2011, offer public space for coastal recreation, enhance protection of marine ecosystems and boost sustainable development of coastal tourism, the SOA official said.